Stent deformity caused by coronary artery spasm

Coronary artery spasm following off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

Coronary artery spasm after coronary artery bypass surgery may result in life-threatening arrhythmias, circulatory collapse, or death. We report two cases of coronary artery spasm after coronary artery bypass surgery, one of which developed ventricular fibrillation requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Both patients were discharged in good condition and are currently followed as outpatients. Unexpected sudden hemodynamic compromise could be due to coronary vasospasm, and this should be considered as one of the possible differential diagnoses. We were able to prevent the lethal consequences seen with coronary artery spasm by early diagnosis and management.

Coronary Artery Multistenting in the Treatment of Life-Threatening Refractory Coronary Spasm After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

A 74-year-old man had undergone on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for effort-induced angina pectoris. Soon after CABG using the left internal thoracic artery for the left anterior descending artery and saphenous vein for the left circumflex artery, ST elevation was found in the inferior leads and complete atrioventricular block, ventricular tachycardia, and circulatory collapse occurred. Emergent coronary angiography revealed diffuse severe spasm of the right coronary artery (RCA). Despite the intravenous and intracoronary administration of massive doses of vasodilators and intra-aortic balloon pumping, the coronary spasm did not resolve. Five stents were deployed from the distal to the proximal portion of the RCA. After multistenting, coronary flow was dramatically improved and the ST elevations in the inferior leads were also improved. Coronary artery spasm after CABG is relatively rare, but when it occurs, it can be fatal. Multistenting is a useful treatment for life-threatening refractory coronary spasm after CABG.